Raymond Pinto

Raymond Pinto is a natural storyteller. He was raised by his grandmother and educated at a Boys School operated by the Jesuits. The lessons he learned as a boy have stayed with him throughout his life. He is a down-to-earth man who has worked hard and yet enjoys life.

It was at school that he was first introduced to the art of printing. Fascinated with the history of printing, he mastered the craft in England at the London College of Applied Arts & Science where he earned his City and Guilds, a tradesman’s certificate. While in England he saw an advertisement in the paper, “Canada is Open to Immigration.” He decided to look into it thinking he would like to go to Ontario but the immigration office encouraged him to consider the prairies.

He knew little about the Canadian prairies but was told that in Saskatchewan the people were all immigrants, were friendly, and that he would be welcome here. He arrived in Saskatoon in January 1967 to -40 below weather. He immediately found work as a labourer but within a short time was called to work for “The Humboldt Journal” a weekly newspaper. His first front page won the Journal its first “best” front page.

He married a Humboldt girl, Rosalind Schlosser in 1971. Together they moved east where Ray studied lithography at George Brown College. When the call came about work in Saskatchewan they were happy to return. Ray worked as a Printing Pressman for Queen’s Printers in Regina for three years before moving to Saskatoon where he worked with Modern Press, home of the “Western Producer,” later MCGraphics and then Print West. He retired in 1998.

His commitment to community is seen in his involvement with the Afro-Caribbean Association. He was an active member working with youth groups and managed the summer camps and steel band for the association. He managed the Pavilion at Folkfest and won “best pavilion” for his efforts. He was also the Vice-President of the Association for a time.

Ray has also volunteered at the Prince Albert Penitentiary. He organized visits for the steel band to play and has prepared traditional Jamaican meals for the inmates. He has taught some to play the steel drums and talks with inmates about his own life experiences in the hopes of motivating them to stand tall and live right.

Ray also canvasses for the Heart and Stroke Foundation and the Sask. Diabetes Association. He enjoys lending a helping hand to his neighbours and friends. He also enjoys hunting, fishing, bowling, and cricket.